The WHO names June 24th through July 24th as “Self-Care Month” – the end date (July 24th – International Self-Care Day) symbolizing the need to practice self-care “7 days a week, 24 hours a day”. To those of us familiar with the vague term “self-care”, this can seem rather unrealistic or like just a gimmick trying to sensationalize a mental health tool. So why should we celebrate it, let alone prioritize it?
According to pop culture (and even some healthcare professionals), self-care is a vague concept of taking a break often in the form of getting a good night’s sleep, trying a yoga class in the middle of a stressful week, or quite simply taking a bubble bath to alleviate significant life stressors. While this can be humorously portrayed, this idea that self-care is a quick fix for bigger more systematic issues that affect our physical and mental well-being is quite harmful. But gimmicks and media aside, what even is actual self-care?
According to the WHO “self-care” is: individuals, families, and communities’ promoting and maintaining their own health, preventing disease, and coping with illness and disabilities, with OR without support from a health care worker. In other words, self-care is a collective effort to not only prevent further decline of individuals’ health (physical and mental) but also to support and address those with already existing disabilities or those with significant barriers to overall wellness.
Self-care is preventative care while simultaneously being healing. Self-care CAN involve some self soothing and maintenance activities like taking a yoga class or some time off from work/school. However, it often also involves things that may not seem quite as fun and appealing – such as fitting in said workout class into an already busy day, making sure you eat at least 3 meals a day, or even setting firm boundaries with loved ones. This means that while self-care is necessary, it may not always feel good in the moment, but it is the things we do to best set our future selves up for wellness and healthy success.
Here are a couple resources to continue looking into self-care and how it can look for you.: